March mellow? Thoughts may turn to spring but . . .

Today is the first day of spring (for meteorologists anyway) and the weekend could be the warmest since Dec. 1.

Or not.

The National Weather Service says March could be close to normal this year, but there's also a good chance it could be colder than normal. . . or warmer than normal.

And snow? (See above.)

So what can you expect from March?

Three of Chicago's 10 biggest snowstorms have hit during that month: 19.2 inches over March 25 and 26, 1930; 16.2 inches over March 7 and 8, 1931; 14.3 inches over March 25 and 26, 1970.

And there was that storm on March 2, 1954 that dumped 11.5 inches on us.

Generally -- generally -- highs are around 40 and lows around 24 at the beginning of the month in the Chicago area and near 52 and 33 by the end.

March 1 has registered a low of 8 below zero (1962) and a high of 71 (1992). March 4 has seen 7 below zero (2002) and 73 (1983).

The warmest March day on record is the 29th: 88 degrees in 1986.

"March is all over the place," says Jim Angel, the state climatologist.

"The first half of March, you may have some warm days but you're always looking over your shoulder for snow. . . Sometimes that's when you get the heavy, wet snow," he says. "By the last half, the odds really start dropping for snow."

As for this particularly month, Angel says it should begin pretty much the way February ended. (And February tied for the fourth snowiest, at 22.5 inches. The same as in 1967.)

Parts of the state south of I-80 could see below-normal conditions, while around here it should be near normal. To further dampen our spring fever, Angel adds: "When you look at the 6- to 10-day outlook and the 8- to 14-day outlook, both have us being colder than normal."